How many antennas should be found on "standard" AAV7A1 amtracs ? Most of the GW2 pics I have gathered show vehicles fitted with 2 antenna masts located on each sides of the upper hull, one being bolted near the fire extinguisher release mechanism. Are these masts specific to "Command amtracs" ?
TIA
Frenchy

you can find the standard and command type details in
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/aavc7a1.htm

Thanks for your reply, Graywolf. I knew this site but the pics that are shown don't make things clearer The Command vehicle that is depicted is not fitted with the antennas I am talking about whereas some troop carriers have them ! Maybe these are fitted to standard amtracs as a part of an upgrade program ? So I will have to scratchbuild them....

Frenchy

I can tell you which is the "policy" for antennas in the Italian Army, but I don't know how this can match with other countries. In a platoon all the vehichles but one (the platoon commander one) has got a single radio to communicate with the rest of the platoon vehicles. The platoon commander has got two radios (and of course two antennas) one to communicate with the other platoon vehicles and one to talk to the company/squadron commander. The squadron/company commander has got has got two radios (and of course two antennas) one to communicate with the other company/squadron platoon commanders vehicles and one to talk to the battaillon/squadrons group commander.
Hope this can help...
Ciao

Grazie molto for your reply, Fabio. As I do not belong to the USMC, I don't know if your explainations can by applied to Marines amtracs, but they sound logical. Now I will try to find more pics to make up my mind. As I have 2 amtracs kits waiting on my workbench (along with several others ) I may build one with these additional antennas and the other without them...
Thanks again
Frenchy